Can anyone speculate what the delusion that God sends and the lie that is believed is, quoted in this verse: "and for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie...that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
God has to end sin on earth one day.
So He is giving the world 7 years to have their way to rebel against the truth.
For He will not give up on the world until they give up on Him.
Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
The antichrist will negotiate peace in the Middle East resulting in a 7 years peace treaty that will affect the world as they come together to work for peace on earth.
He will push his agenda for 3.5 years which he will be of the occult believing he will evolve to be greater than Jesus and the next world teacher.
He will have much influence and become the biggest player on the world scene.
The world will be divided in to 10 sections with a leader in each section in league with him.
The Roman Empire does not lose their dominion until Jesus puts down the world.
The New Age Christ will be of the new age and the Pope and Vatican will be given over to the new age christianity which interprets all religions the same adding support to the antichrist.
During the first 3.5 years salvation is still available to the world.
Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
At the end of the 3.5 years the transgressors have come to the full and war will break out in heaven and the devils are cast to earth where it becomes their holding cell.
Satan will take over the antichrist and will claim to be God and savior by gaining power from the God of forces the power of the Cosmos.
God will send strong delusion to all people who do not love the truth which the devils will deceive all people who do not love the truth to follow the antichrist.
Babylon will never have physical dominion again but her ways are still on earth.
So the beast kingdom is Babylon in spirit which she represents human religion, the occult, and the kingdom of man which is what the beast kingdom is about.